The British Royal Family is UK's Top Tourism Draw

The British Royal Family. Image: Wikimedia

The British Royal Family is a top tourism draw that’s
difficult to knock down from the No. 1 spot. Since the 2012 Olympics, U.S.
visit to London has seen a steady increase by 2.3 million American visitors. That’s
a rise of 11 per cent from 2012 according to the data from London &
Partners, the Mayor’s promotional company.

It appears that these Americans are willing to pay money and
go the extra just to tick off their travel list—get a glimpse of the beloved
Royal Family. And would you believe the Queen is their No. 1 most preferred “dream
tour guide”? But in her absence, Princes William or Harry or the Duchess of
Cambridge would suffice enough. Adele
and David Beckham are also considered as dream tour guides but they can’t beat
the majesty that these royals have to offer.

Of course, there’s the list of royal-related spots that
Americans want to see, including Buckingham Palace, where the Queen lives, and
the Tower of London, where Her Majesty’s precious Crown Jewels kept.

The Duchess of Cambridge, meanwhile, holds a special place among
the royal-curious Americans. A survey by Booking.com found out that beloved
Kate is the British person that Americans are most eager to see. Coming close
to her is no other than the Queen herself, followed by the Spice Girls.

If the British Royal Family is ever to be considered as a
corporate entity, it surely is a very profitable firm, since it directly brings
it billions of pounds to the treasure and is even more value for money
than any republican president—executive or
non-executive alike.

“The Monarchy is a powerful endorsement for individual and
company brands and for the nation brand. We believe that it is making a
significant contribution to the task of driving Britain out of recession,” said
the financial consultancy firm Brand Finance.

The firm reports that the Royal family brings in
about half a billion pounds every year not to mention the “intangible asset in
perpetuity” worth £16 billion.